The Toyota Tundra HD Can’t Compete Without Diesel Power
We know that the idea of the Toyota Tundra HD truck might sound crazy at first, but it might happen soon. Toyota filed a trademark for ‘Tundra HD,’ indicating that a heavy-duty Toyota truck could enter the market. But we feel like the Toyota Tundra HD would need diesel power to compete seriously.
Is the Toyota Tundra HD coming out soon?
Maybe, there are a few clues that suggest the Toyota Tundra HD might make an appearance soon. The 2025 Toyota Tundra HD is being thrown around in the rumor mills with increasing popularity.
Plus, there was a trademark filed for ‘Tundra HD’ back in 2022. It could be like the Nissan Titan XD, which is more of a mix between the full-size and heavy-duty classes. This would help Toyota meet the needs of fans without necessarily having to break into the market.
Let’s face it, the Tundra isn’t keeping up with the top three American truck manufacturers. Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500 sales show how hard it is to compete in the segment, and the HD segment is even more competitive.
We don’t see the Tundra HD doing well without increased muscle and diesel options. The Tundra has a stout Hybrid Max powertrain. It pairs the 3.5-liter V6 engine with an electric motor and a battery pack to generate 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque.
The Tundra can tow up to 12,000 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,904 lbs. But the 2023 Ford f-150 tows up to 14,000 lbs, so it’s already behind.
With the 7.3-liter V8 engine, the Ford F-250 gets 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 19,500 lbs. But with the 6.7-liter High Output Powerstork V8 diesel engine, it can tow up to 23,000 lbs.
Does Toyota have diesel engines?
Yes, Toyota has a variety of diesel engines outside of America. Toyota actually had heavy-duty trucks in the 1950s and offered a few vehicles with diesel engines in America back in the 1980s. So, experimenting with HD models and diesel engines isn’t new.
The 2024 Toyota Hilux, which is closely related to the Toyota Tacoma, features a 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine with 308 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. It might not meet the higher emission standards in North America.
Also, many auto manufacturers have been dropping diesel options. For example, the Ford F-15 and Jeep Gladiator have both discontinued their diesel engines.
This could be related to the push to go green with hybrid and electric vehicles. But the new turbodiesel engine in the Hilux has a 48-volt mild hybrid system to improve its fuel economy by 10%.
With the success of the Toyota Hilux and wanting to provide more Tundra variants to meet the needs of customers, it’s not crazy to think that a larger V8 diesel hybrid could be in the works.
What truck class is the Tundra in?
The Toyota Tundra is a full-size, light-duty, half-ton pickup truck. It’s not in the heavy-duty or ¾-ton truck. Truck classifications are determined based on the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or maximum weight of the loaded vehicle.
Trucks are considered to be heavy-duty models if they exceed a GVWR of 26,000 lbs. A semi-truck with three axles for long hauling is also considered to be heavy-duty.
With a GVWR of 26,000 lbs or less, you don’t need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate the vehicle. Even though some RVs weigh more than the limit, only a few states require a CDL or training.
Do you think the Toyota Tundra HD is a good idea? Will it help Toyota fight Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram? Stay tuned in to our Trucks section for more!
